Critical thinking making the shift

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Everyone,

I am finishing my first semester as a nursing student. Myself and my classmates (we are bridge students paramedic and LPNs) we are having difficulty shifting into the proper way of using our materials. I personally have spent significant time working through the copious reading assignments and used the two NCLEX review books for questions. I also have completed the Iggy online preparation for exam questions. I have supplemented with Nursing made easy and the Success programs for subject matter when I didn't feel I have a grasp on it.

Big question is this What am I missing? I am practising the NCLEX type question, I am learning the material so that I utilize it and scoring fairly well on practise questions for the content material. Still I am not scoring well, barely passing or failing test. I am quite proud of 78% on 12 chapters covering Endocrine and GI that was our last test but hoping someone might be able to take some of the pain out of this process.

Thank you in advance

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I have moved your thread to the General Nursing student forum for more answers. Best of luck with school.

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Specializes in critical care.

I've gotta tell you.... No matter how much I did or didn't study, Bs and Cs were my norm. It got so that my fellow students and I genuinely believed Bs were the new As. It's pretty common to get lower grades than you might be used to when you're in nursing school. Exams might leave you feeling like you are somehow failing school and yourself. Know that this feeling is normal. Also know that successful nurses say where are are sitting now and went on to do just fine.

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Specializes in critical care.

Also - you might look at every question as though the person in it is going to be dead if you don't act. What is the most important need RIGHT NOW? Think ABCs. If it's a question that that thought process can't apply, (i.e. Psychosocial needs, or the person really can't possibly die) apply Maslow. Always, always safety first.

If you get a question about where a patient should be placed, the answer is always in a room closest to the nurses station.

If you have a question regarding which patient the LPN should be assigned, it's always the most stable.

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